Norev 1:18 - 280SL collectible - review

[MichaelB.]

Hey all.

I just took delivery of a 1:18 scale 280SL and wanted to give you all a heads up. Its a very nice (yet expensive) die-cast but the quality is pretty good. It looks pretty true to form, and has some nice details. It even comes with a removable "soft top" that fits & looks wonderful. Its a nice gift for the holidays or something to add to the office.

I got mine on eBay for around $49 and $11 shipping.

[abe280SL]

Thats exactly how my car looks...but a little bigger.
abe

[rob walker]

Looks like someone found a car with 16" wheels to model this on

[MichaelB.]

Ha! Yes, the tires are a bit large, but better in person. Its interesting how the car (a 280) has the earlier small hubcap wheels. And there is no sign of a spare in the trunk... Also I cant seem to find any grab handles on the door panels. But I still really like it.

[Martijn]

Hi Michael,

A year ago I bought this same model at a classic car show in Holland for 39 euro. I agree with you that it is a nice model of an SL. In my opinion it is at least the same quality as 1:18 models of Bburago. For a long time I had been looking for a scale model of a Pagoda, but they are very rare. This was the only one I could find for a reasonable price. Unfortunately it is only availabe in red. I would have liked a blue one better, but this red SL looks also pretty on my desk.

[abe280SL]

You should put a couple of oil drops under the engine to really make it look authentic

[RBYCC]

You should put a couple of oil drops under the engine to really make it look authentic

And I thought i was the only one with the incessant drip....

It is a great model..picked one up last year...

[JamesL]

Not sure who makes it but in Essen this year I saw the Classic Centre shop was selling 280s of a different hue...

[Mike Hughes]

This 230SL model has been available on-line through the MBUSA/Classic/Accessories site in Havanna/Tobacco Brown with matching detachable hardtop  and a medium Blue metallic with a detachable black soft top.  It has better than average detailing, apart from the slightly oversize tires.  Someone mentioned last year that he had carefully detached the rear suspension and trimmed down the mounting points  just a bit to lower the rear end to a more reasonable ride height.

[mbzse]

You can find some info on this subject in the thread here:. http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=7219.0;topicseen

I just took delivery of a 1:18 scale 280SL.../...

[MichaelB.]

Hey cooool!

That brown one is a nice hue. I want one of those too!

[Mike Hughes]

Now what I'd realy like to do is get my hands on the red one with the light interior and swap out the darker interior on the brown version.  Then all I'd need to do is paint the hardtop and hubcaps light beige and I'd have a model of my car!  Where did the red one come from?

[KevinC]

Interesting that the 230 SL version has the LATER wheel covers!

[al_lieffring]

I picked one of these up at the Classics Center when I was in Germany this past summer. I was surprised to see that it was painted 396 metallic blue, the same color that I changed  my car to back in the 70's. This was not a common color on any Mercedes of that era, especially on a Pagoda, it has the same navy blue soft top as car also. The Cognac interior of the model doesn't match the 190 white of my 230, but it is otherwise a perfect match.



 

[mbzse]

Interesting that the 230 SL version has the LATER wheel covers!

I do not quite follow you there Kevin
You posted a picture of the Minichamps 1:43 Pagoda, and this is a sort of in-between animal,
its features match an early 280SL (no head rests for instance) but fitted with the 230SL style
swan-neck type rear view mirror. The manufacturer has named this model "230-280SL Pagoda"
so I guess they specifically made the model so it would blend in as a "general W113 car"

BTW, I note now on the Classic Center Germany web, they seem to be sold out of the metallic
blue Norev 1:18 Special-model. Good thing you bought it when you spotted it, Al 
/Hans in Sweden

.

[66andBlue]

Here is a question for the model car collectors.
Which ones among the many different models and manufacturers listed in the Technical Manual: 
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.ModelCars 
are the most valuable ones and why?